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ST. PAUL - Minnesota is set to receive nearly $200 million in federal energy funds, but state legislators first must decide how to spend it. Lawmakers are considering a variety of ways to spend money from the federal economic recovery package in the coming months.

To the casual passerby, it would appear that Joe Shead might be disoriented. Or, perhaps that he has lost his car keys and is trying to track them down. He moves deliberately across the snowy Duluth hillside, head down, eyes searching. But, no. Shead, who lives in Superior, is looking for antlers. Like a growing number of Northland residents, he's a "shed" antler hunter. He's a collector of antlers that whitetail bucks shed naturally this time of year. "After you find that first one, you're hooked," Shead said. "It's kind of like an addiction.

Marion LaRue "Lize" Koempel, 89, originally of the Farmington and Rosemount area, died March 9 at St. Gertrude's Center, Shakopee. Visitation was held Sunday, March 15, 2-5 p.m., White Funeral Home, 12804 Nicollet Ave., Burnsville, 952-894-5080. Mass of Christian Burial Monday, March 16, 11 a.m., St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, 22120 Denmark Ave., Farmington, 651-463-3360, with visitation one hour prior to Mass. Interment followed at St. Michael's Cemetery, Farmington. Memorials may be made to Marion Koempel Fund, St.

ON SAGANAGA LAKE, NORTH OF GRAND MARAIS -- We have done this the other way. We have marched eight or 12 or 18 miles into the bush. We have made the multi-day slog on snowshoes or skis. We have gone in January and February and watched the mercury pool at the bottom of the bulb. We have endured the deep dark of those early-winter days when the light oozes out of the west by 4:30 p.m. Not this time. It was Jeff Larson of Cook who began making sense when we were talking about a trip back in January. No, he said.

When the Soo Locks open each year, lakers are usually lined up waiting to get through and begin a new shipping season. But that's not likely to happen when the locks open this year on March 25. The crew of the James R. Barker doesn't plan to leave the ship's winter berth at Midwest Energy Resources Co. in Superior until March 29 -- a full four days after the Soo Locks begin operating.

Kellie Ann Lundon-Cormican, 39, of Crookston, was sentenced by Distritct Judge Michael Kraker today to 119 months in prison, with just over 79 months served, for five counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. The charges stem from incidents in August and November 2007 when she had sexual contact with a 14-year-old boy. She pleaded guilty to the charges in December, under an agreement that five first-degree charges were dropped. She will have 10 years of supervised release after her time served and will register as a sex offender.

Minnesota House bill that would prevent registered sex offenders from using social networking Web sites passed through two committees and is now awaiting inclusion in the public safety omnibus bill, said the bill's chief author, Karla Bigham, DFL-Cottage Grove. The bill would make it illegal for registered sex offenders to use Web sites like Facebook and MySpace and gaming Web sites that allow them to chat with other players. Registered sex offenders are already subject to warrantless searches of their homes, bodies and cars, Bigham said. This legislation would extend that to computers.